LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.
a VTPTIM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR A .-.,, DEBT.
TTOWA MAN MAY BE DEPRIVED OP HIS LIBERTY DESPITE MAGNA CEAETA.
(From our own Correspondent.)
DUNEDIN,
This day.
A considerable sensation has been created to day by the publication in the Guardian of "Sketches of Prison Life," where three columns are devoted to detailing the circumstances through which an unfortunate debtor (Mr Louis Stead) has been incarcerated fourteen months for £36; costs of Court, Mr Watt, the Sheriff, being the detaining creditor. • It appeared Mr Watt, as Native Commissioner, lost a deed belonging to Stead, who brought an action to recover damages when in Banco through certain pleadings not being put in. Stead lost the preliminary amount, and was adjudged to pay £36. He was unable to do so, and was committed to prison, and has been there ever since. He refused to go through the Court or sign a release on Watts, as the land connected wiib1 the' lost deeds is said to be worth £2000 now. Watts says he will keep him in gaol till grey headed. The exposure in the Guardian this morning shews that the committal was made out by a Coroner who had no such power, and that Stead is illegally in custody.' In. a leading article the writer says the case furnishes a frightful example of the necessity of a bill to abolish imprisonment for debt, and characterises the.act of Watt in very strong language. "He says the whole matter will have to be brought before- a telect committee of the House of Assembly, and that it is the duty of the Government to interfere and direct the Attorney-General to serve a writ of Meets corpus to bring Stead into Court and tetermine the whole matter, and adds that •great judicial scandal has been created by w case. The Guardian says that under M circumstances it would appeal to the bar bat from recent circumstances refrains. In conclusion the article calls upon the Government to act at once and with decision.
[Per Press Telegram Company.]
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18740526.2.16.3
Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1339, 26 May 1874, Page 3
Word Count
341LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS. Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1339, 26 May 1874, Page 3
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.
Log in